Get to know Gozo’s capital, Victoria, and the many museums of its imposing and historic citadel. Getting to Know Victoria (Ir-Rabat) In my last post, we looked at ways to spend 48 hours in Gozo, Malta’s second-biggest island. The pace of life is slower here, but there’s still plenty to see and do, from archaeological […]
The only Inquisitor’s Palace in the world that’s open to the public? How could I not stop by for a visit? A Final Stop in and around Valletta We have been busy over the past few days! I wrote a post introducing Malta and exploring some of the options for culture lovers. We then did […]
Fort St Elmo spans centuries of history, even predating Valletta. Aim to spend at least half a day here to explore the fort and National War Museum thoroughly. A Final Stop in Valletta We bookended our recent trip to Malta with stays in Valletta. For the first couple of nights we stayed in the Old […]
An imposing building in the middle of Valletta’s Old Town, the Grand Master’s Palace is a great place to learn about the history of Malta from the Knights Hospitaller onwards. To Begin With, What is a Grand Master? In my last post, we visited Malta’s National Museum of Archaeology. I love archaeology, so that was […]
Waddesdon Manor is glorious at Christmas, and just within reach of London as a daytrip destination. Waddesdon Manor: a Perfect Christmas Outing My path to Waddesdon Manor was a rather serendipitous one. I’ve now lived in London so long that I rarely have the energy for the types of daytrips I once embarked on. But […]
Monte Gibralfaro dominates Málaga’s skyline, and forms part of its coat of arms. What better place to get your historic bearings in this important Andalusian city? Making the Most of a Weekend in Málaga A recent trip to Málaga was my second. My first, a few years ago now, was part of a road trip […]
I took a slightly more reasonable approach to exploring Open House London 2025 than I did last year, but nonetheless managed to see historic treasures, contemporary living, and some real oddities as well. Sea cadets in a tin tabernacle, anyone? What Did Open House London 2025 Have in Store? If you’re new here, welcome! If […]
A serendipitous visit to Petersham’s Open Gardens revealed the grand houses and hidden lanes of a village rich in layered history. Visiting Petersham with a Purpose I recently (AKA a couple of months ago) visited Petersham for the first time, drawn by two separate Open Garden events happening on the same Sunday. Not that this […]
On my second visit to Barcelona I finally made it to Park Güell – a long-postponed Gaudí landmark well worth the wait. Park Güell: First Impressions and a Return to Gaudí This visit to Park Güell continues my reflection on Gaudí’s work, following my time at the Sagrada Família museum. But while that church is […]
Back in Barcelona for a conference, I found unexpected calm and beauty at the Reial Monestir de Pedralbes on a quiet Sunday afternoon. A Fortunate Return: First Steps Towards Pedralbes I found myself back in Barcelona by good fortune, almost 18 months after my first visit. This time, like before, I wasn’t here primarily for […]
